EMPLOYER INTERVIEW: Peter Luciano, Service Manager, Konecranes Denver

June232015

Industrial cranes might seem like large, looming objects straight out of a Transformers movie. But, for the electrical engineering technicians (EET) working at Konecranes, being around this cool, enormous equipment—and making sure it's functioning correctly—is just another day on the job.

Konecranes is the overhead crane industry leader and offers a range of lifting solutions. Ecotech Institute had the chance to chat with Peter Luciano, Service Manager for the Konecranes Denver location, to find out what it is like to work at the crane company with the largest service team in the world.

Can you tell us a little bit about Konecranes?

We're a global material handling organization based out of Finland and we have U.S. headquarters in Springfield, Ohio. We have multiple product lines, such as engineering, new cranes, heavy-duty cranes, lift trucks and portal services.

What is your role at the company?

I'm the branch manager for the Denver location and have spent almost 10 years working with Konecranes. I help run the profit and loss center and also manage the inspection department and service department, which include ten field service technicians and seven inspectors.

In what ways is Konecranes a “green” company?

Modern technology has come up with regenerative controls for cranes that generate energy when they are in their resting state. We're constantly recycling and renewing old units for extended life expectancy. It makes them more efficient and uses less power to do the job.

Can you explain what type of work electrical engineering technicians do at Konecranes?

They are part of the service group. They troubleshoot, repair and modernize overhead industrial duty cranes and their control systems.

What skills do you think are going to be most important for students who want to work in electrical engineering technology?

Technicians should know how to utilize their resources effectively and the ability to reach out for help is also very important. They have to have good attention to detail to be able to identify current and future problems and then identify corrective action. It's also necessary to have good technical ability, both mechanical and electrical. Having the two skill sets makes you more marketable.

What does the career path for an electric engineering technician look like at Konecranes?

The person would start off as a service technician. If they show promise then it can lead to a supervisor, sales or operations position. We tend to promote from within since the knowledge of working with cranes has to be learned over time. I was a technician myself and now I'm in charge of a five million dollar profit and loss center.

What's your best advice for a student who is interested in pursuing a career with Konecranes?

If you're coming in for an interview, definitely do background research to find out what products the company offers. It's also important to be flexible. Being a global organization, Konecranes has opportunities around the world. If you're looking to relocate to a different part of the country or the world, we have opportunities for that.